Piano



(NO Model.)

R. B. WATSON- PIANO.

NO. 471,248. Patented Mar. 22. 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROGER B. XVATSON, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

P IA N O SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 471,248,dated March 22, 1892.

Application filed October 20, 1890. Serial No. 368.730. (No model.)

TO all wwm t't may concern:

Be it known that I, ROGER B. WATSON, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Denver, in the County of Arapahoe and State ofColorado, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pianos, forwhich I desire to obtain Letters Patent, and of which the following is aSpecification.

My improvementrelates to the stringingof pianos; and its main objectsare, first, to provide a simple and eificient screw device by which theupper ends of the strings may be rigidly held and adjusted in tensionand pitch; second, to provide a method of winding the Strings upon theirstringers, whereby the space required'between the stringers at this partneed not eXceed the thickness of one string, while it admits of thestrings being practically, though not actually, in one line or planebetween their fastenings and the agraffe; third,-to prevent or limit theoutward or inward movement of the lowerparts of the stringers by cansingthose tending to move inward to oppose and balance those tending to moveoutward; fourth, to 'prevent or limit the lateral or twisting motion ofthe strings by causing the inward or outward turned parts to passbetween opposite or different parts of adjoining stringers; fifth, tofacilitate tuning where the tnning-nuts are equidistant by placing adistinguishing-mark upon the adjacent parts in suitable position toindicate which string is Operated by any particular nut. These objectsare obtained by the methods and means described herein, and shown in thedrawings, in which- Fignre lis a Vertical section of the device as takenthrough the dotted lines X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 isafront view of thedevice as applied to the treble part of the piano. Fig. 3 is aslightlydifferent form of the stringers with sections shown at threepoints, the difference being in the shape of the end K only. Figs. 4 and6 Show the guide-pieces used in the bass part between the stringers.Fig. 5 shows a form of adjusting-nut having tapered squares upon itsupper part. Fig. 7 shows more openly the method of winding the stringsupon their stringers and their relation to each other. Fig. 8 shows thearrangement of the stringers in the bass part with the guide-piecesbetween them and also the form of projecting lange in that part to snitthe inclined position of the stringers. Figs. 9 and 11 show a modifiedform of the means of limiting the inward or outward movement of thelower parts of the stringors. Figs. 10 and 12 show another form of thesame. Figs. 11 and 12 show, also, modified forms of Stringers. Fig. 13shows my method of winding the strings in relation to each other by asection taken through the string-fastenings along the dotted lines X ofFig. 1. Fig. 14: shows the usual method of winding the strings, thefastenings or windings being in one row and requiring space for twothicknesses of springs between the stringers. Fig. 15 shows amodification of the plate H, having gnide-grooves on each side toreceive and guide the returned or hooked ends of the stringers.

The drawings show the figures as arranged in an upright piano, and theterms used in this specification and Claims are intended in thissense-that is, as seen in Fig. 2.

In the drawings similar letters refer to similar parts.

In Figs. 1 and 2, G represents the main plate of a piano, to which theprojecting flangc G' is cast or fixed. In this flange holes are drilledin two rows and staggered, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, into Which holesthe stringers A and A' are fit-ted and made adj ustable by the nuts CLand a', Fig. 2. These stringers are identical in shape, but are reversedin position. The upper screw-threaded part is of round section, as isalso the hooked or retnrned part, while the part between C and B is ofoval or elliptic section. The oval or elliptic form of this part has theadvantage of increased strength and of Offering no Sharp angles or fiatfaces to the string-windings, so that they are not liable to break atthis part and will Wind snug and uniform upon their stringers. The endsof the stringers are passed through the holes shown at J, Fig. 3, andalso in Fig. 1, and the strings are wound about their stringers, so thatthe last coilwill come into the required position, as shown in Fig. 1,so that when the stringers are arranged and adjusted in position thestring-windings shall come quite close to but not overlap each other.

It is desirable in arranging the stringers in their places to put a fewonly at each end of IOO the bar H,or the position where it will come,and after putting a slight tension on these to place the bar inposition. The stringers should then be added alternately,so as tobalance each others pressure upon the bar H. This bar may be in one ormore pieces of any suitable length and curve, but not too short;otherwise the motion of one stringer (in turning) may cause it to becomedisplaced through the insufficient pressure of the others upon it. InFigs. 1, 2, and 8 the bar 1-1 is shown plain, but may, if preferred,have grooves, as shown in Fig. 15, to guide and steady the stringers. Itwill be seen that the bar is not fastened to the plate G or to theflange G", but is held in position by the endsof the stringers A and A',which press against it in opposite directions. It may, however, beapplied to the parts of the strngs just below the stringers, somewhat inthe same manner as the plates are applied to the stringers in Figs. 9and 11, but with the curves or corrugations of the plate in Fig. 9shallower, so that the string's may be in one line or row; or a platemay be placed upon each side of the string and attached together bysuitable means; but I prefer placing the guide plate Or plates upon thestringers.

In Figs. 1, 2, 7, and 8 the strings F and F' are attached to thestringers A and A', respectively, -the difference in F and F' being inposition and direction of the string-windings only. The oval part of thestringers is shown as lying central with the other parts, but may, ifpreferred, be at one side. In Fig. 3 is shown a notch or indentation inthe string ers at Y to receive and regulate the position of the lastcoil of the strbing; but vunless Very precise adjustment of the stringsis desired it will not be required.

In Fig. 1 the stringers A are shown quite close to the plate G, and theymay be allowed to bear lightly against it; but this is not necessary,and they should not in any case press hard upon it, as this wouldincrease their re: sistance to motion when timing.

As the stringers in the bass part (lo not come close enough together toprevent twisting motion, I employ guide-pieces, (shown in position inFig. 8 and separately in Figs. 4 and 6,) suitable sections of which areshown at N' and L', respectively, and in order that they may grip thebar H firmly and still be capable of adj ustment in relation to thestringers the Width of the inside bend S Should be greater than theWidth of the bar; but the Width apart of the parts R should be less, sothat when placed upon the bar H with the part S uppermost the parts Rwill clamp firmly upon the bar and prevent jarring. or

displacement of the guide-pieces.

In the treble part of the piano the hooked or returned ends K of thestringers should just fill the space between adjoining stringers, asshown along the dotted lines (l of Fig. 2, to prevent lateral motion ofthe stringers.

In Fig. 7, f represents the string-windings,

and it will be seen that they are in two rows and Staggered and thatthey all Wind around the stringers in the same direction; but the coilsare arranged alternately inward and outward along them, so that the downwardly-proceeding parts come, practically,in one line or row. Thislatter is also shown in Fig. 13, where the small circles representsections of the strings, and those that are blackened or solidrepresents the downwardly-proeeeding parts. In this figure, however, thewindings are shown a little separated for the sake of distinctness,though they may be brought quite close together, as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is simply intended to illustrate the usual method of windingthestrings in relation to each other, they beingin one row and so requiring space for two thicknesses of strings between the stringers.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 9 and 12 theplate Z is shown woundround or laced between the stringers, and the plates O are placed oneither side of them and held togetl'ler by suitable means, such as thebolt shown in Figs. 10 and 12. These plates may also have guidegrooves,as at O', Fig. 10,

to guide the stringers. In Figs. 11 and 12 D shows the oppositelybentends of the stringers.

I do not limit Inyself to the precise form of stringers or guide-platesshown and described herein, as they may be variously modified, and thedifferent parts of the stringers may all be of round or all ot' ovalsection, except the screw-threaded parts.

The distinguishing features of my devices and methods are as follows:

the strings justbelow-them and screwing this' plate to the plate G. Mymethod is distinct from this, in that the devices are capable ofperforming their oice Without being attached to or in contactwith anyparts of the piano ICO IIO

except the stringers or strings, the parts tending to move inwardopposing and balancing those tending to move outward by means of theplate H or its equivalent.

This feature includes all devices which do not require to l the generalinclination of the .upper parts of the strings to their sounding partsor to the plate G. This may readily be done by suitably placing thefiange G' or the holes therein or the agraffe or bridge E.

Second. In order to suit the usual construc tion of pianos the distanceapart of the stringers along the fiange G (in tuning devices of thisclass) must not eXceed seventeen onehundredths of an inch, or three andone-half inches for twenty stringers. Now, it' the strings are fastenedas shown that is, wound about their stringers-and the coils are oppo-Site each other in one row or line, as shown in Fig. li, (which is thensual method of bringing the upper parts of the strings into one line orrow) two thicknesses of stringhave to be allowed for between each pairof stringers, so that the stringers have to beverythin at this part andthe strings bent very Sharp, which weakens both stringer and string. lavoid these defects by placing the string winding or coils in two rows,one behind the other and alternately arrauged, and by winding the coilsalternately inward and outward and toward each other alon theirstringers I bring the last coils close together, so that the stringsproceed downward tothe agrafte in one line or row, or sufficiently sofor practical purposes. I am aware that the string windings have beforebeen arranged in two rows alternately, one above the other, and havingtheir strings proceeding downward in one line or row; but I am not awareof any tuning devices in which the fastening-coils are arranged in tworows one behind the other, alternately, orotherwise, and capable ofpassing without displacing each other in their upand-down motion intuning and having their last coils close together, so that the stringsproceed downward in one line or row. My devices require less roomvertically than the latter form, so that longer strings, &'c., may beused in pianos of the same size.

Third. I am aware that devices have before been used in which thestringers (which are not alternately arranged Or reversed in position)are steadied or guided laterally by contact with adjoining stringers;but I am not aware of any tuning device in which the stringers arearranged in reversed positions and are guided or steadied laterally by apart of one stringer being in contact with other substantially differentparts of the stringers.

Fourth. To enable a tuner to readily see Which nut is connected with thestring he wishes to tune, I place a mark upon the flange G' just infront of the tuning-nuts or upon the plate G just above and behind them.By

means of such marks uniformly arranged (opposite to a corresponding nutin each set of three) it can readily be seen which nut Operates anyparticular string -viz., if in front of the middle nut it indicates thatthis nut operates the middle string; it midway between two sets of nuts,as shown in Fig. 2, it indicates that the first nuts to the right and tothe left are those which operate the lefthand and right-hand outerstrings, respectively, of those sets.

The string-spacer T (shown in Fig. 2) is not claimed herein, it havingbeen claimed -1n my application filed August 29, 1890, Serial No.362,784.

Finally, the word stringer refers to that part of a tuning device towhich the string Is attached, and the terms set of two or set of threerefer to a set of strings which form one note and have the same pitch,or to devices connected therewith.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

u 1. In a pianotuning device, the combination, with the stringers andstrings, of one or more plates or pieces of metal or other sultablematerial suitabl y arranged upon and held in position by the stringersor adjacent parts of the strings and not necessarily in contact withother parts and adapted to regulate the inward or outward position ofthe strings in relation to each other, the pressure of those partstending to move inward opposing and balancing those parts tending tomove outward by means of said pieces or platcs, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a piano-tuning device, the combination, with the stringers andstrings, of pieces Or strips of metal or other suitable material adaptedand applied t-o the lower parts Of the stringers or adjacent parts ofthe strings and capable of limiting or regulating the inward Or outwardinclination of the upper parts ot' the strings in relation to each otherwithout being attached to any parts of the piano except the stringers orstrings, substantially as described.

3. In a piano-tuning device, the combination, With the stringers andstrings, of the string fastenings or coils arranged upon their stringersin two rows, one behind the other,

and having the windings or coils of each row' directed toward thewindings or coils of the other row, so that the downwardly-proceedingparts of the strings may be brought very' nearly into one line or row orinclination toward the agrafte, substantially as described.

4:. In a piano-tuning device, the hOok-shaped stringers arranged inalternately-reversed positions and having their lower parts guided andtheir lateral motion limited or prevented by being in contact with asubstantially different part of adjoining stringers, substantially asdescribed.

5. II1 a piano, the combination, with the tuning devices, of suitablemarks arranged in uniform positions near each set of three tuning-nuts,whereby corresponding nuts of each set may be distinguished from others,substantially as described.

6. In apiano-tu ning d evice, the hook-shaped stringers arrangedalternatelyin reversed positions and provided with suitable means ofattachment to the piano at their upper parts and to the strings at theirlower parts, substantially as described.

7. In a piano-tuning device, the combina- IOO IIO

tion, With the striners, of a bar OI' plate placed between the two rowsOf stringers, substantially as described.

8. In a piano-timing device, the stringersA 01' A', having ascrew-threaded upper part, in' colnbination With a string'receiving partof OVa1 Or elliptic section and a hooked 01` up- Wardly-returned lowel'end, substantially as described.

9. In a piano tuning device, the combination Of the stringers A', havingtheir lower ends h Oked OI' returned upward and inward and passingbetween the upright portion Of the Stringers A, with the Stringers Ahaving their lower ends hooked, returned upward and outward, and passingbetween the upright portion Of the stringers A', substantially asdescribed.

10. In a pianO-tuning` device, the stringel's having their lower endshooked Or returned upward and passing between the uprightpor- Stringersand Onthe bar, substantially as shown and described. l

R. B. WATSON.

Witnesses: l

DAVID H. LUDLOW, SWAIN BACK.

